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VANCOUVER—The Vancouver Public Library (VPL) is facing public criticism from trans-rights advocates for booking an event featuring a writer known for questioning trans identities.

Meghan Murphy, founder of the website Feminist Current, will give a talk on “gender identity, ideology and women’s rights” in a room at the central branch of the VPL in January. Murphy has gained attention in recent years for her critiques of the trans-rights movement and for refusing to recognize trans people’s gender identities.

Meghan Murphy, the founder of website Feminist Current and who has become known for questioning trans identities, will be speaking at an event at the Vancouver Public Library in January. (Contributed)

News of the event surfaced this week, prompting criticism from many on Twitter and other social-media platforms.

Morgane Oger, who is the vice president of the B.C. NDP and also a transgender woman, said in a series of tweets on Wednesday that Murphy speaking at the VPL could hurt trans people.

Oger said she believes that Murphy’s previous statements and videos contributed to the spread of hatred and discrimination toward trans people, comparable to other types of discriminatory language against minority groups.

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“It’s inconceivable that the VPL would allow religious hatred, or racial hatred, or anti-Indigenous hatred to be spoken on its property and has policies stopping such events from happening,” Oger said. “So I find it very hypocritical.”

Poet jaye simpson, who spells their name in lowercase and has they/them pronouns, was to take part in a trans-inclusive reading circle hosted by the VPL in December. But simpson said that after a request that VPL cancel the event was met with refusal, they will no longer take part in the event.

On Tuesday, simpson tweeted: “As of 4:05PM, @VPL has told me they are not prepared to cancel M*ghan Murphy’s event. I am officially removing my name from the VPL’s Open Book: A Trans, Gender Variant and Two Spirit Reading Circle.”

Already, simpson said they have faced attacks on Twitter for being critical of the VPL — which simpson said proved their point that trans people face public discrimination, spurred on by events such as Murphy’s.

“I’ve warned VPL this would could happen, and because I spoke up it’s happening to me, it’s speaking to the fact this is a very real thing,” they said.

In an interview, Murphy said that her event was “intended to be a conversation” about gender and legislation around gender identity.

Murphy said that she was concerned about laws and policies that have been passed to allow “males” into women-only spaces, such as women’s shelters, and about “gendered stereotypes” that she said are perpetuated by transgender ideology.

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“There’s been feminist concern and critique about how that legislation will impact women’s rights,” she said. “There’s been no public debate about this in Canada.”

Murphy denied any claims that her viewpoints were discriminatory or equal to hate speech, and instead alleged that trans people were not a marginalized group and instead had great influence over current dialogues around gender.

“There’s no hate speech,” she said. “Trans people are not marginalized because they have control over public discourse.”

A 2017 study from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research found that transgender youth reported high levels of discrimination and violence due to their gender, leading to higher rates of self harm, suicide and suicidal tendencies compared to cisgender youth in Canada.

Currently, the library has no plans to cancel Murphy’s event.

Carol Nelson, spokesperson for the VPL, said that groups must agree to comply with the Criminal Code of Canada and the B.C. Human Rights Code during events held at VPL. She also said that police have been alerted to concerns about this event.

“VPD have been made aware of the event and will be monitoring … If we anticipate that this event will present a risk to public safety, additional security measures will be put in place,” said Nelson in an email statement.

Nelson added that while the event was not endorsed or hosted by the library, they will not be cancelling the event due to their support of free speech.

“While we do not agree with the views of this group, free speech and intellectual freedom are core values of the Vancouver Public Library. As such, we will not refuse to rent to an individual or organization simply because they are discussing controversial topics or views.”

Correction — November 30, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version to remove statements made by Morgane Oger about Meghan Murphy that Murphy was not given an opportunity to respond to in line with StarMetro’s fairness standards.

Cherise Seucharan is a Vancouver-based reporter covering health and safety/youth. Follow her on Twitter: @CSeucharan

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